Gore, Whiteface making snow

You may or may not be ready for winter to be coming, but ski season is only a few weeks away — and Monday night's cold was enough to up ski areas' game.

Both the Gore Mountain ski area in North Creek and Whiteface Mountain outside Lake Placid started making snow with temperatures in the teens Monday night, in anticipation of opening day for both on Friday, Nov. 23. Whiteface already has a small amount of natural snow, but not enough to open.

“We had a really good first night of snowmaking,” said Gore Mountain General Manager Mike Pratt. “We ran over 70 guns, there was very little wind, and temperatures got down to the teens.”

Both ski areas are state-owned, and operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

Gore acquired 160 high-efficiency tower guns in 2011, and this summer added five sets of hydrants with tower guns to the “Sunway” trail, as well as putting additional tower guns on the mid-mountain Saddle Area.

There have been other trail improvements at Gore Mountain, and a complete renovation of the Tannery Pub & Restaurant, including a new kitchen, reconfigured seating, and new menu options.Season passes for both ski areas are already available.